ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) said Pakistan hasother options if President Biden continues to ignore the country’sleadership saying Washington’s lack of effort in engaging Islamabad isstrange.
As the US has asked the South Asian country for help in halting theTaliban’s progress amid the NATO troops withdrawal, Biden has yet to speakwith Khan on the matter, he said
Speaking with the *Financial Timeslink*, NSAsaid “US President hasn’t spoken to the premier of such a key country whothe US itself says is ‘make-or-break’ in some cases, in some ways, inAfghanistan and we struggle to understand the signal, right.
Responding to a query, he said “We’ve been told every time that the phonecall will happen, it’s technical reasons or whatever. But frankly, peopledon’t believe it. If a phone call is a concession, if a securityrelationship is a concession, Pakistan has options” he clarified.
The US-based publication noted that while NSA Yusuf did not elaborate onhis options, “Pakistan has cultivated deep ties with its ‘iron brother’China, which has invested billions in infrastructure projects as part ofits Belt and Road Initiative.”
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Meanwhile, a senior Biden administration official responding to Yusuf’sstatement said “There are still a number of world leaders President Bidenhas not been able to speak with personally yet. He looks forward tospeaking with Prime Minister Khan when the time is right.”
Earlier, the US State Department also mentioned Pakistan as a key state inthe Afghan peace process and it wants to continue to play its importantrole for regional stability.“Pakistan has much to gain and will continue tohave a critical role, be well-positioned to have a role in supporting theoutcome” US State Department’s spokesman Ned Price said.
Pakistan’s National Security Advisor is now in Washington, DC, to addressthe key issues including Afghan peace. Meanwhile, the chief of Pakistan’sintelligence agency Lieutenant-General Faiz Hameed is also in the US alongwith Pakistani officials.
